Ipomoea plant named ‘ISGHR06-1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Ipomoea batatas  cultivar named ‘ISGHR06-1’ is disclosed, characterized by greyed-red/purple heart-shaped foliage. Plants are semi-compact, have a trailing habit and produce many lateral branches, without pinching or chemical growth regulators. The new cultivar is an  Ipomoea batatas , typically suited for ornamental container and garden use.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ipomoea batatas.

Variety denomination: ‘ISGHR06-1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated as a chance discovery by the inventor, SteveJones. The variety was discovered as a naturally occurring whole plantmutation from an unnamed, unpatented proprietary variety of Ipomoeabatatas. The new variety was discovered in August 2018 at a commercialgreenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif.

After selecting and isolating the new cultivar, asexual reproduction ofthe new cultivar ‘ISGHR06-1’ was first performed by vegetative tipcuttings in a commercial greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif. in October2018. ‘ISGHR06-1’ has since produced several generations and has shownthat the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced trueto type. Typical asexual reproduction of the new variety is byvegetative tip cuttings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ISGHR06-1’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘ISGHR06-1’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘ISGHR06-1’ as a new and distinct Ipomoeacultivar:

-   -   1. Semi-compact, trailing habit.    -   2. Greyed-red/purple foliage.    -   3. Very well branched.    -   4. Heart shaped foliage.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ISGHR06-1’ are similar to the parent in mosthorticultural characteristics. However, ‘ISGHR06-1’ differs in thefollowing:

-   -   1. The new variety has greater plant vigor under low light        conditions than the parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ISGHR06-1’ can be compared to the unpatentedcommercial variety Ipomoea batatas ‘Sweet Georgia Heart Red’. Plants of‘ISGHR06-1’ are similar to plants of ‘Sweet Georgia Heart Red’ in somehorticultural characteristics, however, plants of ‘ISGHR06-1’ differ inthe following:

-   -   1. The new variety has greater plant vigor under low light        conditions than this comparator.    -   2. The new variety has thinner heart-shaped leaves than this        comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘ISGHR06-1’, seen in the left side of the photograph.The plant on the right of the photograph is the abovementionedcomparator variety ‘Sweet Georgia Heart Red’. Both plants areapproximately 8 weeks old, from an unrooted cutting, shown in a 6 inchpot.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the foliage of both the new variety andthe abovementioned comparator. Foliage of the new variety is on theright in FIG. 2, foliage of this comparator is seen on the left side ofthe photograph. Plants were grown in a greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The R.H.S.Colour Chart, 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. The following observations and measurementsdescribe ‘ISGHR06-1’ plants grown during the Spring months in agreenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif., under bright, unshaded conditions.Average day temperatures were approximately 20° C. to 26° C. and theaverage night temperature was approximately 15° C. to 18° C. Noartificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments weregiven to the plants. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Ipomoea batatas ‘ISGHR06-1’.-   Age of the plant described: Approximately 20 weeks from an unrooted    cutting.-   Container size of the plant described: 1 gallon commercial    container.-   Propagation:    -   -   Propagation method.—Terminal cuttings.        -   Time to develop roots suitable for transplanting.—Summer —            about 6 days at an average temperature of 24° C.; Winter —            about 10 days at an average temperature of 24° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy. Roots colored closest to            RHS Yellow-White 158A.        -   Tuber description.—Not observed to date.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Semi-compact, and mounding in center of plant,            then trailing with maturity. Dense and bushy.        -   Height.—Measured from top of soil line of pot, approximately            17 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Approximately 42 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Rapid.        -   Branching characteristics.—Very free branching, alternate or            whorled occurring.-   Primary lateral branches:    -   -   Length.—7 to 22 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Appearance.—Glossy.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple N186D.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Internode length.—0.5-1.4 cm.        -   Adventitious roots at nodes.—Not observed.-   Secondary lateral branches:    -   -   Length.—4 to 9 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple N186D.        -   Strength.—Flexible.        -   Internode length.—0.5 to 1.0 cm.        -   Quantity per 20 week old plant.—Approximately 15 to 25.        -   Adventitious roots at nodes.—Not observed.-   New shoot growth characteristics:    -   -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple N186D.        -   Aspect.—Upright in center of plant, outward along outer            circumference.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.-   Foliage:-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled and alternate, simple.        -   Average length.—11 cm.        -   Average width.—7 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Elongated cordate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Aspect.—Mostly flat, slightly undulating.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.        -   Appearance of top surface.—Matte.        -   Appearance of bottom surface.—Matte.        -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—Average 10 to 20.-   Foliage color:    -   -   Young foliage upper side.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple 183A            completely covered in overlay of N187A. Veins 183A.        -   Young foliage under side.—Near RHS Purple N79A. Veins Purple            77A.        -   Mature foliage upper side.—Near RHS Purple 77A with            completely covered in overlay near Greyed-Red 178A. Veins            Greyed-Purple 185A.        -   Mature foliage under side.—Near RHS Purple N79B. Veins            Purple N77B.-   Venation:    -   -   Type.—Palmate, reticulate.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—Average range from approximately 6 to 9 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Color.—Near RHS Purple 79B.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong, very flexible.        -   Aspect.—Straight to slightly undulate.-   Flower: Flowering not observed to date.-   Other characteristics:-   Seeds and fruits: No seeds/fruits observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    the normal pests and diseases of Ipomoea has been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates low temperatures to approximately    2° C. Good high temperature tolerance, observed to at least 38° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ipomoea batatasplant named ‘ISGHR06-1’ as herein illustrated and described.